Running marathon for dad

Neil Shefferd

A Thame resident is running the London Marathon this weekend in support of his father who has a lung condition.

Gareth Thomas, 38, is taking on the challenge in aid of the British Lung Foundation as his dad John has idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a condition which causes a scarring of the lungs leading to breathing difficulties.

Gareth, from Lashlake Road said: “It’s been demoralising and frightening to see my dad’s physical decline since being diagnosed with IPF in 2014. “I felt that if he had to face the daily challenge of this vengeful and unrelenting disease then I wanted to do something I would find challenging, that was also high profile enough to bring attention to the cause.”

John, a former manager at the Thame Barns Centre now struggles with everyday activities such as going upstairs and gardening without the use of oxygen.